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Library Corner

Pleasant Hill/Martinez Record

Posted:
08/19/2014 12:28:10 PM PDT

All Contra Costa County library branches offer programs for children, teens, adults and families. All branches are closed Aug. 31-Sept. 1, for the Labor Day holiday. For library hours and updated information, call the local branch or 800-984-4636 or visit www.ccclib.org.

At the Martinez Library, Story Time programs are free.

Mother Goose Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 2. There will be stories and songs, followed by a simple craft time. Best for ages 6 months-3 years old.

Electronics Makerspace! 3-4:30 p.m. Aug. 27. Kids and teens 8-18 and their parents are invited to build various electronic projects the last Wednesday of each month with volunteers. Participants will learn about basic circuitry and create projects like color mixing lamps, motorized pinwheels and keyboard instruments. All supplies are provided and guidance from the volunteer is available.

Saturday Needle Art with Marilyn: 1-3:30 p.m. Aug. 23. Free. Teens and adults can drop in to work on current projects or restart a needle art hobby. Hands-on knit and crochet instructions from Marilyn.

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Button Making: 3-4:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Teens are invited to make buttons and create their own graphics or use some provided to decorate clothes, backpack or room. All materials provided.

Basic Beading Class with Yolanda: 6-7:15 p.m. Sept. 16. Teens and adults can create their own jewelry with supplies provided. Registration is required by noon the day of the event.

Bobcat! Through Aug. 23, a bobcat exhibit provided by the Lindsay Wildlife Museum is on display during open hours at the library.

Free Computer Help: noon-2 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17. Teens, adults and seniors can make an appointment or stop by to get one-on-one help with browsing the Internet, and how to use e-readers, smart phones/tablets and basic computer problems.

Master Gardener Class -- Saving Water in Your Landscape: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Roxy Wolensko of Contra Costa Master Gardeners will discuss irrigation methods, plant selection and placement, water gardening and rainwater harvesting that will help homeowners conserve water in their landscape.

Story Time: 11:15-11:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays features songs, movement and simple stories. Good for ages 0-5, but all are welcome.

Afternoon Story Time: 1:15-1:45 p.m. Fridays. There will be songs, movement and simple stories to introduce children ages 0-5 to literacy.

Cosmos and Microcosmos: 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 26. Kids can take a look at the vastness of outer space, and then a close-up look at tiny worlds through a microscope in a program presented by the Chabot Space and Science Center.

Lego Creators Club: 2-3 p.m. Saturdays. Now with robots! Kids ages 5-11 can let their imaginations run wild and make many creations. Advanced builders can build and program their own robots with Lego Mindstorm EV3 kits.

Eco-Sewing: 3-5 p.m. Aug. 27, Sept. 17, 24. Teens can learn sewing machine skills and create upcycled fabric creations. The event is led by a recycling educator and artist. Crafts made will be used toward TAG's annual Art, Jazz and Wine Festival donation drive, and will benefit the library.

Wii Wednesdays for Teens: 3-4:30 p.m. Sept. 3. Teens are invited to meet others and play games on the library's Wii system.

Pleasant Hill Teen Advisory Group (TAG): 3:30-5 p.m. Sept. 10. Teens ages 13-18 can meet other teens and the young adult librarian every second Wednesday of the month in Room A to create fun programs and suggest new resources. Participants can receive volunteer hours.

Teen Chess and Board Games: 3-5 p.m. Fridays. Students 12-17 can get instruction and participate in friendly matches and tournaments. Participants can bring their own boards.

Annual Book Giveaway: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except Sundays through Aug. 30. Used books no longer needed in the collection are free to the public. The giveaway is located at library administration in the shipping parking lot, 75 Santa Barbara Road. Bring your own bags or boxes.

Pleasant Hill Library Book Discussion: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16, in Room A. The discussion is on "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking," by Susan Cain.

Afternoon Book Discussion: 1-2:30 p.m. Sept. 12. Adults can read with others at the library in the upstairs reference area. This month's selection and discussion is on "People of the Book," by Geraldine Brooks.

One-On-One Computer Tutor: 10-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays throughout August; 11 a.m. and noon Wednesday, Aug. 27; and noon-1 p.m. and 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Adults can reserve an appointment for a one-hour, one-on-one computer training session to learn the basics and set up an email account, print and save on the library computer, use Microsoft Word and search the Internet. Select tutors may also offer assistance on digital gadgets like laptops, smart phones, e-readers and cameras. For help on a specific device, call the library when you make a reservation. Only one active reservation at a time is allowed per patron, and reservations missed by 15 minutes may be given away.

Volunteer Orientation: 3-4 p.m. Sept. 6. Teens and adults can learn to be a library volunteer during a tour the branch with a staff member.

English Conversation Practice for Adults: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Adults can practice speaking and listening to English in a casual group run by the library staff and volunteers.

Las Juntas Artists Association: In partnership with the library, each month the group exhibits the works of different artists during regular library hours.